FCA counts on Stelvio to give Alfa U.S. sale boost

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles is banking on the new Stelvio SUV to provide a big spark to the low-volume brand's U.S. sales, which have slumped 23 percent this year to 441 vehicles, most of which are the 4C Coupe and 4C Spider.

Alfa Romeo returned to the U.S. in late 2014 after a nearly two-decade absence and is betting on the Stelvio to help draw a new generation of buyers as well as fans of rival German brands.

"American drivers are still getting to know the Alfa Romeo brand, and the introduction of the Stelvio is the best way to gain exposure to consumers in the bustling premium utility segment," said Eric Lyman, chief analyst for TrueCar.

The Alfa Romeo Stelvio -- the first crossover from the resurrected brand and key to Fiat Chrysler Automobiles' hopes of restoring Alfa Romeo to global relevance -- features a trim lineup that puts German competitors squarely in its sights. The crossover was unveiled last weekat the Los Angeles auto show.

The Stelvio, named after a harrowing mountain pass in the Italian Alps, is built on FCA's new Giorgio platform, which also underpins Alfa's Giulia compact sport sedan.

It will be built at FCA's plant in Cassino, Italy, and is expected to begin appearing in showrooms in 2017.

Alfa is the latest luxury marque -- after Porsche, Jaguar, Bentley, Maserati and Lamborghini -- to expand beyond a traditional car lineup and market increasingly popular SUVs and crossovers.

'Blown away'

FCA is investing $6 billion to expand Alfa's product lineup with the goal of generating global sales of 400,000 in 2018. The Stelvio is expected to account for a major chunk of that volume.

Reid Bigland, the global head of Alfa Romeo, told Autocar that the Stelvio will stand above its German competitors because of how it drives.

"The reason people will buy our midsized SUV is because they will get blown away by the driving dynamics," he said. "Every car Alfa makes must stand apart for that reason. This car will not disappoint."

13 exterior colors

The Stelvio will offer a choice of two engines. The base model and midtrim Ti are powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four with direct injection making 280 hp and 306 pounds-feet of torque. The top-end Quadrifoglio is powered by a 2.9-liter biturbo V-6 engine that generates 505 hp and 443 pounds-feet of torque -- good for a 0-to-60 mph time of 3.9 seconds. The V-6 also features cylinder deactivation, allowing it to conserve fuel by shutting off half of its cylinders when not under load.

The all-wheel-drive crossover features a torque-vectoring differential to improve traction and stability, while its standard Q4 system allows transfer of up to 60 percent of torque to the front axle.

Inside the cabin, the Stelvio shares a number of features with the Giulia, including its climate controls, flat-bottomed steering wheel with paddle shifters, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto-compatible infotainment system.

They also share Alfa's "DNA" selector knob, allowing the driver to change driving dynamics, including Race modes for the Quadrifoglio models. A second rotary dial in the center console controls the infotainment system.

When it enters production next year, the Stelvio will be available in 13 exterior colors with a sizable number of interior trim and color choices. Pricing was not announced.